The first of four public forums kicked off this weekend in Taipei ahead of a national conference on economic affairs. The following three meetings will be held in southern, central and eastern Taiwan.
The purpose of the meetings is to allow the public to voice opinions ahead of the National Conference on Trade and Economics, which will take place in Taipei on July 26-28.
The government proposed the three-day conference in response to student-led protests which occupied the legislature for three weeks earlier this year. Those protests focused on a trade agreement with China.
National Development Council Minister Kuan Chung-ming said Sunday that the government is already working on many of the issues that have been broached at this weekend’s regional forum. However, he said, officials will pay particular attention to the issues about which most people are concerned.
Kuan said it was unfortunate that the opposition parties are boycotting the regional forums. He said he was still interested in hearing their opinions, and was willing to visit opposition party officials in person.
One of the main issues broached so far at the forum, was how to ensure national security in trade with China. A majority of participants said they hoped that the government would set up a system of oversight and risk management, as well as a national security review that would be required before a cross-strait pact can be signed.
Meanwhile, it was also suggested that the government issue an annual “red paper”, or cross-strait risk assessment report.